USACM Supports Bill to Expand FCC Technical Capacity

USACM has sent Senator Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) a letter of support for her bill to expand the technical advising capacity of the Federal Communications Commission. The bill, S. 2881, is called the FCC Commissioners Technical Resource Enhancement Act, and would allow each FCC Commissioner to add one staff assistant position to the three they are currently allowed to appoint.

As written, the additional staff position would be someone with an undergraduate or graduate degree in computer science or electrical engineering. USACM recommended in that this language be changed to require ‘recognized expertise’ in computer science, electrical engineering, or a related field. It also recommended that language be added to the bill requiring that the staff assistant not have been employed by a regulated firm, an industry lobbying group, or a law firm representing either such entity, for at least three years prior to the appointment.